Ancient Kingdoms and Cities

Polonnurawa-located at a distance of 216 km from Colombo-was the capital of Sri Lanka in medieval times. Used by the Sri Lankan kings as a 'country residence' from the 7th century, Polonnurawa became Sri Lanka's capital in the 11th century AD. During its time the city was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many a shrine and sacred place. The city and the surrounding area were watered by a unique irrigational complex known as the Sea of Parakrama (Parakrama Samudra).

Kandy-a major tourist destination-is also known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Nestled in the hills at an altitude of 488 m, it is located at a distance of 115 km from Colombo. Kandy has a rich history. It was originally known as Senkadagalapura after a hermit named Senkada who lived there. Many of Sinhalese people call it Mahanuwara meaning the Great City. The name Kandy was derived by the colonial rulers from the word Kanda in Sinhala, meaning a hill. Kandy was the stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, who promoted and protected the local culture until the city fell to the British in 1815.

An early 20th century English writer commented on Nuwara Eliya: “When he looks out of his window in the early morning and sees the whole world glistening under hoar-frost and the garden brimming with geraniums, pansies, sweet peas and every English flower, he wonders if he is really in the tropics at all.” There’s no need to wonder. It is the tropics and it’s for real. Sri Lanka is well-known for hot sunny days and beautiful stretches of palm-fringed beaches. So how can there exist a place that has grey, cold, drizzly days and chilly nights with a mean temperature of 57F? Where there is a need for wood fires and extra blankets at bedtime to stave off the cold? Where there is a golf course, English-style pubs, trout fishing - and not even a palm tree in sight?

Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescos), which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 – 495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

A century ago, Dambulla was a mere collection of wattle-and-daub huts and ‘native shops’ that extended for no more than 200m. True, it was the location of a spacious and comfortable rest-house, but that was about all the place had to offer the 19th century tourist, except, of course, the experience of a visit to the famous cave temple on the massive rock that provided the backdrop to the village. In addition, the rest-house was sometimes used as a night stopover before an excursion to the nearby rock of Sigiriya early the next day.

Many who visit Hikkaduwa are usually sun worshippers, sea worshippers or wave worshippers. The foreign influx began in the late sixties and before long the town began to bustle with fun-seeking visitors.. The Germans were the biggest influence for a long time, and although today many signboards and menus are still in German, the clientele is now much more international. In particular, the number of Australians is rising as the fame of Hikkaduwa as a surfer’s destination grows.

Although gems are found in many places in Sri Lanka, the best locations are in the river valleys at the foot of Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada), near the town of Ratnapura. No surprise, then, that Ratnapura became the country’s gem centre. As mechanized gem-mining is banned in Sri Lanka, the extraction of gemstones is an unsophisticated and small-scale affair, which has the advantage that the traditional methods employed are observable. Ratnapura is the capital of the province of Sabaragamuwa and the capital of the gem-mining industry in Sri Lanka. In fact the name means “City of Gems.”